The Washington Capitals are on top of the Metropolitan Division heading into February. After they were swept out of the playoffs last year, they changed their goaltending and it has worked perfectly.

Per ESPN's Kevin Weekes, Washington is exploring a potential contract extension for Lindgren, which would carry an AAV in the $3.5-4 million range. Lindgren is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, as he's in the final year of the three-year, $3.3 million contract he signed to originally be Darcy Kuemper's backup in 2022.

Getting back in there with the guys and being in the room again, I can’t overstate how much I love this team and how much I love the guys,” Lindgren said after Thursday’s game.

After getting a six-year, $35.1M contract done with pending UFA netminder Logan Thompson on Monday, the Capitals are looking to keep the other half of their goaltending tandem from reaching the open market.

Sportsnet: Stephen Whyno on the Washington Capitals may want to extend defenseman Jakob Chychrun before getting to pending UFA goaltenders Logan Thompson or Charlie Lindgren.